In response to questions from defence QC Donald Finlay, Mr Doyle said: "We were just normal brother and sister."

But, he said, "she was going her way and I was going mine".

The court was told that in a statement to police, John Doyle said: "When Elaine died we weren't really talking to each other."

The statement continued: "To be frank we would disrespect each other.

"We would get on each others' nerves and I would see her as my annoying little sister."

Mr Doyle insisted that should not be taken literally.

"She was annoying in a cute way," he told the trial.

Accused

John Docherty, now of Hunters' Quay Holiday Village, Dunoon, denies murder and claims that at the time he is alleged to have stripped and strangled 16-year-old jeweller's assistant Elaine he was with his parents - who are no longer alive - at their home in Anne Street, Greenock.

The charge alleges that on 2 June 1986 in a lane near Elaine Doyle's home in Ardgowan Street, Greenock, he seized her by the hair, struck her on the head and either removed or compelled her to remove her clothing.

The charge goes on to allege that Mr Docherty forced Elaine to the ground, pushed her face into the ground, sat or knelt on the teenager then placed a ligature round her neck and strangled her.

Mr Docherty also denies stealing a handbag from Ardgowan Street on the same date.

He further denies a charge of attacking another woman, Linda Hargie, on various occasions between 1990 and 1995 at an address in Anne Street, Greenock, by seizing her and pushing her and punching her on the head.